Where are First Ladies’ entitlements? Aisha asks as Buhari, Osinbajo others go home with billions

VANGUARD

By Charles Kumolu, Deputy Editor   & Kingsley Omonobi

Upon leaving office tomorrow, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and ministers, among others, would go home with billions of naira as severance package. The development happening in a struggling economy has sparked outcry.

The funds represent their total disengagement benefits as prescribed by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission, RMAFAC.

Meanwhile,  wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has emphatically made a case for some entitlements for former First Ladies like former Presidents.
Aisha explained that wives of former leaders deserve special provisions while in office and when they leave.

She said when pressure comes, nobody wants to know whether you are out of the (Aso Rock) Villa or not.
The First Lady spoke at the launching of a book in Abuja, titled: ‘The Journey of a Military Wife’, authored by the President of Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association, DEPOWA, Mrs. Vickie Irabor.
She said: “I married my husband as wife of a former President. I am going in a few days as a wife of a former president a second time.

“They should consider us as former First Ladies. They should incorporate the First Ladies, give us some privileges that we deserve as First Ladies, not just former Presidents.”

Commending Irabor for the book,  Buhari’s wife noted: “It is a factual, emotional book that will help officers’ wives navigate their lives.

“It underscores women as agents of stability for the nation as the nation battled insurgency and other security challenges.

“It’s a guide and reference for military wives and the need for better support for military widows.
 ”Insights from the book will help readers appreciate the challenges of the military family”
RMAFAC, which has reducing cost of governance as part of its mandate, is saddled with the responsibility of prescribing salaries, allowances and benefits for political office holders.

Section 32 (d)
Since its establishment by Decree 49 of 1989, the Commission has been proposing salaries and allowances for this category of public office holders.

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